Electric Hendrix Vodka Pulled From Shelves In Lawsuit Victory

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 19th 2009 at 2:02PM

Dead celebrities can be big business but one celebrity-branded product is off the shelves. Electric Hendrix vodka, which launched in 2005 and was marketed by businessman Craig Dieffenbach and Hendrix's half-brother, Leon Hendrix has been the subject of a long legal struggle which has now ended. A federal judge in Seattle has ordered the makers of the vodka to pay $3.2 million in damages for trademark infringement. The permanent injunction was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly on February 12 and the vodka company has just 10 days to comply with the order. Electric Hendrix is barred from using any trademarks or logos controlled by Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, two companies owned by the Hendrix estate. The judge had first ruled for the estate back in October but as the Seattle Times reports Dieffenbach filed an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and two sides entered a settlement agreement in December.

The Hendrix estate has been a subject of controversy since the guitarist's death in 1970. Because he died without a will the estate went to his father, Al Hendrix. Control of the estate went to Janie Hendrix, the adopted daughter of Al after his death in 2002. Leon Hendrix was reportedly cut out of his father's will and sued Janie in 2004 for a piece of the estate. His claim was denied.Branding a vodka with the image of someone who died during a drunken episode has always been somewhat of a strange move which the estate branded 'a sick joke' back in 2007. Janie Hendrix said in a press release that "this judgment recognizes our family's long-standing commitment to preserve the Jimi Hendrix legacy and artistic vision."

Some of the controversial bottles will likely find a home on eBay. So far this morning, there's just one listing for a mini bottle with a buy-it-now price of $22.95.

Gallery: Celebrity Liquor

Tags: electric hendrix vodka, ElectricHendrixVodka, jimi hendrix, JimiHendrix, lawsuit, vodka

Filed under: Spirits, Celebrity Design

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Aubrey Feb 19th 2009 3:37PM

Dieffenbach obviously should have thought ahead before he went and used Jimi's name and image on the bottle. Clearly, you need permission before you can use (like EVERY other celeb out there). This has a pretty good wrap-up of what happened: http://www.octagonfirstcall.com/celebrityconsulting/Blog/2009/02/19/learning-from-hendrix-electric-vodka/

JetCityOrange Feb 20th 2009 12:37AM

I guess this means my unopened bottle is worth more now. JetCityOrange.com/Hendrix-Vodka

tojo Feb 20th 2009 8:09PM

Why they don't they just give the black bast*rds thier cut and then thye'll shut the fu*k up!

Educated Feb 21st 2009 2:55PM

Tojo or marksmant 02 or whoever the f*ck u r, u need a life and an a** whooping. U r nothing but a racist b*tch. Take the white sheet off and realize whose world u r living in. We have a Black president so obviously WE r doing something right. Most of the other blogs u posted are racist so u r nothing but a prejudice b*stard who probably is an unemployed dropout with no life. Check ur ancestors, Im sure they wore white sheets and burned crosses 2. And u say our race is sad. COWARDS!

Gil Feb 20th 2009 8:32PM

Shouldn’t all of your great musicians, now parted, be treated with respect?

Today is Kurt Cobain’s 42nd birthday! Take a look at the birthday tribute for Kurt Cobain at:

http://www.kurtcobainnews.com/